*slim*

In the beginning, I only told one person. She is a family member that has had gastric bypass. I wasn't going to tell anyway one else. I was separated at the time that I decided, so I didn't tell my husband. I later told one friend who has been somewhat supportive. I finally told my mother and husband. I have to be truthful and say that I wish I hadn't told either one of them. My mom can't keep a secret to save her life. I told her that I wasn't planning to tell anyone and she said, "well, I won't tell anyone else." WTF!!! I don't want everyone watching everything that I put in my mouth! I don't want people asking me if I can have that?

:biggrin:

I begin coverage with UHC on sept 1st so I will be calling day one to see if I qualify. I will keep updating. Would love to here more details if anyone in the at&t family has some hints.

All I can tell you is keep the faith. As per the normal, nothing is the same within the company. We aren't even offered UHC here in East TN. I will wish you much luck.

Woo Hoo!!! I am so glad you didn't have to go through all the bs to get it. Let us know when you have a date. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

10/2/08!!! WOOHOO!:biggrin:

I am confused about the process I am in right now. Here is what's going on maybe someone can tell me what to expect.

I went to the information meeting in June. I was waiting for my BC/BS of Mass (Blue Care Select PPO) to take affect. It finally did August 1 so I called the office and gave them all the card details for my plan. The surgeon's office manager called back to tell me that I did not have a bariatric exlusion and that all my details were already on file with them. They said if my BMI was over 40 (which it is) then I am a candidate for this surgery. There were other things mentioned too such as failed attempts at weight loss and a willingness to lose a lot of weight. She said the failed attempts could be something as simple as writing down all my attempts over the years.

She then said she would send this on to their insurance specialist to get 100% information on what is required since I am 100% sure I want to do this. She said based on this call I will get an appointment set up with the surgeon.

Is the call they are making "the" call if they get the right answers? When the woman called me back after initially calling she said "Your insurance seems very easy compared to most" Though I am afraid to let me guard down and get too excited.

Basically you are waiting to find out what hoops the insurance company wants you to jump through for approval. Some are easy and only require that you be over weight and have a doctor say you need the surgery or will benefit from the surgery. Others (like mine) require that you have a supervised weight loss plan for 6 months in the last 2 year, plus 5 year history of obesity, and some type of comorbidity (i.e. sleep apnea, diabeties, high blood pressure, etc). Thankfully, I had been going to my doctor quite a bit the last couple of years. They were able to document my weight and also document over a 6 month period that we discussed my weight, diet, and exercise. Since she said that yours is easier than most, maybe you won't have to wait a long time.

Good luck to you!

Thanks for the information. I have decided to stick with the doctor that I have. He is the more qualified of the two I was thinking about. He is more expensive, but I will get a little more with his office.

We hereby annoint you (with slime) as a member of the Bandsters!

The initiation rite isn't pleasant, but once you're in, it's great!

How funny!:biggrin:

I need to know if you can switch doctors after getting insurance approval? If you can, was it hard to do?

Good luck to all of you today!

Okay so all my stuff was submitted to the insurance exactly one week ago and i was told it would take 6 weeks to a month to get approved. So to my surprise i got a call today saying they got the approval and they have scheduled my surgery for Thursday!!!! I can't believe this has happened so fast it has taken less than a month from the first time i walked into the doctors office until now this is crazy. When i first went to the doctor they told me i would have to wait six months to do a presurgery diet so the insurance would approve it but i begged them to submit what i had and they did and it went through i am going crazy i was not ready for this. Any last minute tips of what i should run out and buy or have on hand.....I could scream i am so happy!!!!:thumbsup::crying::thumbsup::eek::smile2::confused2:

Today is your surgery day! I will be thinking of you and any others having surgery. Way to go!:crying:

Thanks for the info. I got my flag yesterday.:smile2:

I'm always hot! Especially at night I'm constantly waking up to turn my pillow or move positions because I put off SO much heat! Will this go away when I get my band and lose some weight?

I sure hope so because I have the same problem! I can't stand for my legs to even touch in bed because it just seems to make me even hotter. I freeze my family because I have the AC blasting at about 65 degrees while still having my ceiling fan and a portable fan blowing at me constantly. I wish you and everyone else the best of luck!

Since you can't get them on the phone, if they are not too far from you, I would just drop by with the boxes in hand. I don't think they could ask you to call back then. Just a thought.

:lol:Hi everyone I am Colette and I am from Oregon. I am getting my Band on Thursday morning. I am very nervous not so much about the surgery but making sure I get enough Protein. I so dont want my hair to fallout, muscles turn mushie or my heart shrivel and die. :thumbup:

I am very excited for my new journey to start. Any words of wisdom:wink2: I look forward to chatting with you all---

Our surgeries are scheduled for the same day on the 28th. Mine is suppose to be done as an out patient in Evansville, IN

Hi both of you are being banded tomorrow! Congrats and good luck!

Hi. First, I so understand about the out of state insurance. I live and work in TN, but my insurance is BCBS of Illinois. :confused2:

To answer your insurance question, it really depends on who provides your insurance (your employer). My employer is a self pay through BCBS so my employer actually determines what is covered and how. If the provider of your insurance does cover it, they still will determine what the qualifications are. The standard qualifications seem to be a BMI of 35-40 with comorbidities (i.e. sleep apnea, hypertension,etc) or BMI over 40 with no comorbidities. Also there is sometimes a supervised diet plan usually through a doctor or sometimes even Weight Watchers is accepted. Then lastly a history of obesity (just doctor's visits showing your weight that can be calculated into your BMI).

I hope this helps.

So this is all new to me although I've been doing research and going to doctors visits and having all kinds of tests done and well my doctor finally gave me the referral to a surgeon. Although I confused. I called the doc and I have to do some seminar before they can give me an apt. The girl was really nice and advised me to see if my insurance covers bariatrics and to not ask to many questions, so I did just that. I was advised that it is covered if medically needed once approved they will cover 100%. I also asked where on line I could find the requirements so she told me where and so I went to look but that info is not online. So I came across something else in the benefits website under doctor search and it didn't have names of doctors but approved facilities for bariatrics and this doctor is not affiliated with any of the 4 hospitals in the Chicago land area! So am I just wasting my time with this seminar if this doctor isn't affiliated with one the the 4 hospitals? Ugh... Anyone have a suggestion for me. I will tell you that I was diagnosed with sleep apnea (just received my cpap machine a week ago) my BMI is 41 or 42 and I have been having back issues and went to therapy and MRI's and nothing is wrong mechanically. I have issues with my ankles and knee's giving out I'm like 5'. 0.5" and as of yesterday 219 (I lost 5 lbs this month, I'm so proud). I have BCBS of GA and I live in Chicago land area go figure out of state insurance! Does any of this look hopeful? Some one anyone give me some inspiration words of wisdom. I've been wanting and pushing doc to say ok Lap Band since early this Year and it's now August and I just turned 30 2 weeks ago and want to enjoy my 4 year old daughter and life.

I would call that surgeons office and ask if that doctor is covered either with full benifits or out-of-network benefits on your insurance plan. Some surgeons will accept the out-of-network benefits as full pay. Otherwise, I would check into the 4 clinics that are listed under your insurance plan. I have BCBS of Illinois (I live in TN) and I was able to go on their website and find my surgeon's name even though I couldn't find his clinic's name listed.

I hope this helps. Good luck on your journey!

Hi everyone, just thought I'd say hello to everyone. I was banded last Friday and am just browsing around the site to see what there is to learn.

Way to go! There are some really nice people on here that can answer just about any question that you might have. If you read through some of the threads, you will find the answer to some of your questions before you even think to ask it.

Good luck to you!

I am officially a bandster! I checked-in at the hospital at 6 a.m. today and had the procedure at 7:30 a.m. I woke up in Recovery around 9 a.m. and felt incredibly good. None of the horrific gas pains that I've heard about and no nausea. I still haven't had either, 7 hours out! The incisions aren't even that sore. I was able to check-out and head home around 9 a.m. PTL!

I've been up walking every hour (almost) and just hope that this post will comfort someone who is scheduled for surgery soon. I read a lot of horror regarding post-op pain, but there are MANY of us who have experiences such as mine!!! It is going to be soooo worth it.

GOOD LUCK!

Carly

P.S. Do Not Worry! (Phil. 4:6)

Dr. Terry Simpson

Phoenix, Arizona

Way to go! :thumbup:

I have my first apt with my dr this Friday and I am super excited! However, I am a little worried, I dont really have any co morbs, maybe sleep apena I am not sure I do have joint pain but nothing medically noted. I have tricare which asks for co morbids does joint pain count?? I def meet the weight but not sure about the co morbids my insurance requires:confused:

Joint pain was one of the things that my surgeon's office asked about. I think it does count. If its documented in any of your medical records, you could be able to use that.

Good luck with your insurance!

I would contact the insurance company myself to ask what their requirements are. Sometines, the requirements are controlled by the company (employer) providing the insurance. It can't hurt to check. Good luck!

I have told my husband (wish I hadn't:mellow:), my mom (really wish I hadn't:angry:), one friend, and my boss (who is also a friend). I have told 2 too many people.:thumbup:

My surgery is 10/02/08! Can I be a smashing pumkin too?

I'm in too!! October 2! Do we have a name yet?

We could be twins, reborn on the same day!:thumbup:

WooHoo! 10/02/08 is my surgery date!:thumbup::thumbup:

I think just about everyone goes through what you are going through prior to surgery. I know I am going through it right now. I have been eating like there is no tomorrow since my paperwork was turned in. It took reading another post on here that finally made me stop. I don't want to wake up from surgery to find out that I didn't get my band because of my liver.

You are strong (you survived everything else to get here). You are almost there! Good Luck to you!:cursing:

Woohoo, I am going to be an October bandster!:cursing:

Good luck to us all!